News

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Tuesday, June 17, 2025

23-Year-Old Homeless Man from Pennsylvania Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison Following Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor

June 2, 2025, Devan Vincent, 23, appeared in a Muskingum County Court where he was sentenced to ten (10) to fourteen (14) years in prison for charges that stem from Vincent’s unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. At the time of the crime, the minor was fifteen years old.

Vincent pleaded guilty at his hearing to three charges: Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Disseminating Matter Harmful to Juveniles, and Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor.

For Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a minor, a felony of the fourth degree, the Judge imposed a twelve (12) month prison sentence.

For Disseminating Matter Harmful to Juveniles, a felony of the fifth degree, the Judge imposed a twelve (12) month prison sentence.

For Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor, a felony of the second degree, the Judge imposed a prison sentence of eight (8) to twelve (12) years.

The Judge ordered that each sentence be served consecutively, one after the other, resulting in a total prison sentence of ten (10) to fourteen (14) years in prison.

Vincent was also ordered to register as a tier 2 sex offender. As a tier 2 sex offender, Vincent must register every 180 days for 25 years. Also ordered was a mandatory five (5) years of post-release control.

Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch stated that his office is pleased with the outcome of the case. “Our office understands that child molesters and sex offenders never really get the punishment they deserve but the law places limits and restrictions on how various crimes are sentenced. Unfortunately, those restrictions require the prosecutor’s office and the judges to decide which sexual assault cases are worse than others when in reality all sexual assault cases are terrible.”

Case Details:

March 16, 2025, law enforcement responded to a call about a missing juvenile. The caller told officers they had taken the juvenile’s phone. They found out the juvenile’s boyfriend, Devan “Harmon,” was eighteen and homeless. The reporter also informed officers that Devan allegedly moved to Ohio to be with the juvenile victim. Reports confirm that Devan lived in a homeless camp and that he is an active drug user.

Shortly after receiving the call, patrol officers located Devan and his victim at a local church. After locating him, officers took Devan into custody. Thereafter, investigators discovered that Devan Harmon’s legal name is Devan Vincent, and he is twenty-three (23) years old.

During investigations, the reporter informed law enforcement that Devan had sent nude photos to the victim and believed that the two were engaged in a sexual relationship. Evidence recovered during the investigation showed the defendant did send nude photos as well as a video of himself masturbating to the underage victim.

Interviews revealed that Devan, while living in Pennsylvania, met his victim on the social media app TikTok. Devan admitted that when he first started talking with the victim, he told her that he was eighteen years old. Devan denied moving to Zanesville to meet his victim and claimed that he moved to the area to get as far away as possible from where he was.

Reports state that the victim and Devan met at a Dollar General after he moved to Zanesville. Devan claimed that meeting his victim there was coincidental.

After meeting, Devan changed his story to his victim and told her that he was nineteen years old. When detectives asked Devan why he lied about his age, he responded with, “I wanted to see like if she would actually believe it or not. You know see if she would go along with it. You know. Play... just mess with her and everything.”

During his interview, Devan told detectives he checked Ohio State law. He knew he couldn't have sex with the victim until she turned sixteen. Devan first denied any sexual contact with the victim until she turned sixteen. In his interview he later admitted to having sex with her when she was fifteen.

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